Meatless Monday: Summer fruits and vegetables

Patricia Conte has a background in marketing communications and works as an independent writer. In 2010, she was given the opportunity to combine her love of writing and food when she started as a contributing writer for the Food channel...

Seasonal produce makes meals a snap

Summertime. It’s all about keeping cool, taking a well-deserved break and enjoying your surroundings. Meatless Monday is a great program you can easily incorporate into your summer meal-planning mix.

What happens a lot during the summer? Picnics on the beach, road trips to a new adventure, hiking at the park. Consider meals and snacks that are easy to make, easy to pack, delicious, and light enough to get you through the hot, hot temps.

The best meals come from the best ingredients, so try to eat foods that are in season. To point you in the right direction, the Produce for Better Health Foundation provides a convenient listing of seasonal fruits and vegetables. You'll find plenty of options to get you through the summer months and you can begin to make plans for the year ahead.

Check out some of the fruits and vegetables in season during July and August: